Bill would let wrongly arrested clear their names without paying

01/28/2020

Expungement and sealing fees cause individuals with erroneous criminal records to have a hard time moving forward with their lives.

TAGS: Cook County, crime, criminal justice, decriminalization, expungement, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, overcriminalization, records, restore my good name

Illinois cannabis taxes among nation’s highest, could keep black market thriving

By Austin Berg

01/09/2020

Springfield lawmakers have yet to learn the lesson that money walks. And it’s not just to other states. Sometimes, it walks past the legal dispensary with a 40% tax rate and into a dealer’s house.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, decriminalization, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, legalization, marijuana, medical marijuana, Springfield, tax burden, taxes, THC

Chicago council member calls for decriminalization of magic mushrooms

By Vincent Caruso

10/22/2019

City leaders passed a resolution expressing support for expanding scientific and medicinal research on organic psychedelics in Chicago, with the goal of decriminalizing adult use of the plants and fungi.

TAGS: Brian Hopkins, Chicago, Chicago City Council, criminal justice reform, decriminalization, legalization, magic mushrooms

Marijuana convictions soon might come off Illinois criminal records

By Vincent Caruso

11/30/2018

Illinoisans convicted of possession of cannabis prior to the state’s 2016 decriminalization law could see those crimes expunged under a bill passed by the Illinois House.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, decriminalization, expungement, marijuana

Rauner signs bill allowing medical marijuana alternative for opioid prescriptions

By Vincent Caruso

08/28/2018

The Alternative to Opioids Act will give more Illinoisans the option to treat pain with medical marijuana.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, criminal justice reform, decriminalization, marijuana, opioid, Toi Hutchinson

Illinois lawmaker proposes legislation to legalize marijuana

By Hilary Gowins

03/22/2017

Under state Rep. Kelly Cassidy’s proposal, Illinoisans age 21 and older could legally possess, manufacture and sell marijuana.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, decriminalization, Kelly Cassidy, legalization, marijuana

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signs marijuana decriminalization bill

By Bryant Jackson-Green

07/29/2016

Effective immediately, possession of up to 10 grams of marijuana in Illinois is punishable by a fine, instead of a misdemeanor with possible jail time.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, decriminalization, marijuana

Why Gov. Rauner should sign marijuana decriminalization into law

By Bryant Jackson-Green

05/27/2016

Imposing civil fines instead of criminal penalties for marijuana possession is a smart first step toward changing how the state deals with low-level, nonviolent crimes.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, decriminalization, marijuana

Illinois House passes marijuana decriminalization bill

By Hilary Gowins

05/18/2016

The Illinois House has voted to impose civil fines rather than criminal penalties for low-level marijuana possession.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, decriminalization, marijuana

State Rep. Cassidy reintroduces marijuana decriminalization bill

By Mark Fitton

12/11/2015

Twenty states and the District of Columbia have removed the threat of jail time for simple marijuana possession.

TAGS: decriminalization